WEEK SIX: THE JUSTICE OF GOD

Introduction: Two questions that disturb believers and unbelievers alike

1. Why do bad things happen to good people?
2. Why do good things happen to bad people?

The real issue is . . . “Life is not fair!”
The deeper question is ... "Does that mean God's not fair?"

A Biblical World View

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Defining the Justice of God:

· Revealed through Abraham

“Far be it from you to do such a thing--to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Genesis 18:25)

· Revealed through the Psalmist

“Clouds and thick darkness surround Him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.” (Psalm 97:2)

“Justice embodies the idea of moral equity… Judgment is the application of equity to moral situations and may be favorable or unfavorable according to whether the one under examination has been equitable or inequitable in heart and conduct.” --- A.W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy

“. . . God’s work as Judge is part of its witness to His character . . . It shows us also that the heart of the justice which expresses God’s nature is retribution, the rendering to men, what they have deserved; for this is the essence of the judge’s task. To reward good with good, and evil with evil, is natural to God. So, when the New Testament speaks of the final judgment, it always represents it in terms of retribution. God will judge all men, it says, ‘according to their works’.” (Matthew 16:27, Revelation 20:12) --- J.I. Packer, Knowing God


How does God reveal His Justice to us?

1. Through the NATURAL order (Romans 1:18-20)

2. Through the HUMAN (Romans 2:15-16)

“These, then are the two points I wanted to make. First, that human beings, all over the earth, have this curious idea that they ought to behave in a certain way, and cannot really get rid of it. Secondly, that they do not in fact behave in that way. They know the Law of Nature; they break it. These two facts are the foundation of all clear thinking about ourselves and the universe we live in.” --- C.S. Lewis

3. Through His role as JUDGE (Hebrews 12:23, 2 Timothy 4:8, John 5:22)

4. Through the CROSS (Romans 3:25-26)

For Christ also died for sins, once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit…” (1 Peter 3:18)

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5. Through the promise of ETERNAL retribution
· For Believers (1 Corinthians 3:10-15)
· For Unbelievers (Hebrews 9:27)

How are we to respond to God’s Justice?

1. CHOOSE to embrace Jesus today as your Savior rather than meet Him as your righteous Judge later. (John 5:22-24, 1 Peter 3:18)

2. REFUSE to take revenge when treated unjustly knowing God and God alone is judge. (Romans 12:17-21)

3. PONDER deeply your time, talent, and treasure in view of the Judgment Seat of Christ and the injustices in our world. (1 Corinthians 3:10-15, 2 Corinthians 5:10)

Application:

1. Pray and ask God to reveal if you need to forgive anyone who has treated you unjustly.
2. Pray and ask God if you need to ask anyone for forgiveness because you have treated them unjustly.
3. What injustice in our world bothers you to the point of doing something about it? Will you? When? How?